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Santa Monica Studio / God of War
We can all use some more God of War in our lives, and according to a very reliable video game insider, we can possibly expect to beat up some Greek deities this year.
A new God of War game, reportedly in the form of a smaller spinoff like Insomniac’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, will see the franchise return to its Greek roots.
The buzz about the new game comes on the heels of PlayStation celebrating the franchise’s 20th anniversary with a free update for Ragnarök that features some dope cosmetics.
Outside of that, Sony Santa Monica has been very quiet about its plans for the God of War franchise in the future and its next project following the release of the Valhalla DLC for Ragnarök in 2023. Still, there have been rumblings of a remaster of older GoW games.
Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb, who is basically the Adrian Wojnarowski, Shams Charania, and Adam Schefter of video names, claims that a God of War “side-story project” will arrive sometime this year.
“OK. Everyone keeps asking about this, so I’ve tried to find out more: There’s still a Greek God of War thing coming out this year, but it’s not a remaster collection. It’s a new side-story project, ” Grubb wrote on Bluesky.
Jeff Grubb Is Not So Sure About The Remaster Collection
He also kind of threw cold water on the remaster talk, writing in another post on Bluesky, “I was never told about a Remaster collection, but I asked a source about the rumors (that I saw were focused on a collection), and they told me that nothing God of War would happen at the State of Play but something could show up at the anniversary.
Consider us excited for whatever Sony Santa Monica has coming.
In Grubb, we trust.
Playboi Carti continues his triumphant week on Billboard’s charts as he becomes the first rapper — and only third artist overall — to score at least 30 simultaneous hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in a single week. The avalanche comes almost entirely from the 27-year-old Atlanta native’s new album, MUSIC, which concurrently storms in at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
On the chart dated March 29, Playboi Carti claims 31 total hits on the Hot 100 — all 30 of his MUSIC tracks from the project’s streaming edition, and a feature credit on The Weeknd’s “Timeless,” from the pop/R&B superstar’s Hurry Up Tomorrow album. Thanks to the haul, Playboi Carti joins Taylor Swift and Morgan Wallen as the only artists to capture more than 30 spots on the list simultaneously. Wallen owns the record, with 36 placements on the chart dated March 18, 2023, due to his One Thing at a Time drop, while Swift has crossed the 30-song mark twice: 32 on the list dated May 4, 2024, after her The Tortured Poets Department release, and 31 entries the following week.
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With 31 simultaneous hits, Playboi Carti rewrites the record for most Hot 100 entries by a rapper in a single week. Drake previously held the mark, with 27 appearances on the July 14, 2018, chart in the wake of the arrival of his blockbuster Scorpion album.
Playboi Carti’s MUSIC campaign begins with “Evil J0rdan,” which debuts at No. 2 on the Hot 100. The entrance matches Playboi Carti’s best Hot 100 showing as a lead act, tying the four-way track “Type Shit,” with Future, Metro Boomin and Travis Scott, which peaked in the runner-up spot in April 2024. Among all his credits, Playboi Carti featured with fellow guest Rich the Kid on Ye (formerly Kanye West) and Ty Dolla $ign’s “Carnival,” which topped the Hot 100 for one week in March 2024.
MUSIC sparks another Hot 100 top 10 in “Rather Lie,” with The Weeknd, which starts at No. 4. The new single, now being promoted to radio, is the pair’s third shared Hot 100 entry, after “Popular,” also with Madonna, reached No. 43 in June 2023, and “Timeless,” which opened at its No. 3 peak last October.
Thanks to all the MUSIC activity, Playboi Carti surges 75-1 for his first week atop the Billboard Artist 100, which measures artist activity across key metrics of music consumption — album and track sales, radio airplay and streaming — to provide a weekly multi-dimensional ranking of the most popular artists. The rapper previously peaked at No. 2 in January 2021, following the arrival of his Whole Lotta Red album.
Here’s a complete rundown of Playboi Carti’s tracks on this week’s Hot 100:
No. 2, “Evil J0rdan”
No. 4, “Rather Lie,” with The Weeknd
No. 17, “Good Credit,” with Kendrick Lamar
No. 20, “Crush,” with Travis Scott
No. 23, “Timeless,” with The Weeknd
No. 25, “Backd00r,” with Kendrick Lamar and Jhene Aiko
No. 27, “Mojo Jojo”
No. 28, Philly,” with Travis Scott
No. 33, “Fine Shit”
No. 34, “Toxic,” with Skepta
No. 38, “K Pop”
No. 41, “Pop Out”
No. 43, “Radar”
No. 46, “Trim,” with Future
No. 48, “HBA”
No. 49, “Charge Dem Hoes a Fee,” with Travis Scott
No. 52, “Wake Up F1lthy,” with Travis Scott
No. 53, “Jumpin,” with Lil Uzi Vert
No. 54, “I Seeeeee You Baby Boi”
No. 55, “Crank”
No. 56, “Like Weezy”
No. 58, “Twin Trim,” with Lil Uzi Vert
No. 65, “Olympian”
No. 69, “Munyun”
No. 71, “We Need All Da Vibes,” with Young Thug and Ty Dolla $ign
No. 75, “Opm Babi”
No. 80, “Cocaine Nose”
No. 85, “Dis 1 Got It”
No. 86, “Overly”
No. 88, “South Atlanta Baby”
No. 96, “Walk”
On Sunday night (Mar. 23), Playboi Carti notched his second Billboard 200 No. 1 album with MUSIC. The colossal 30-track set scored a wondrous debut for the OPIUM leader, as he secured the biggest streaming week for any album in nearly a year. For Carti, this is his first album in five years, and its debut nearly triples the opening week-performance of his previous album, 2020 demon-driven effort Whole Lotta Red, confirming him as a leading light of this rap generation. Though Carti should savor this win, the late great Ben Parker comes to mind: “With great power comes great responsibility.” If Carti wants to be the undisputed torchbearer for hip-hop, he should consider a few crucial factors on his road to glory.
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Before his MUSIC atomic bomb detonated the charts, Carti was a proven features savant. His eccentric delivery and kooky flows made him a must-listen whenever he was penciled in on a guest slot. Over the last couple years, he’s left indelible prints on songs like Kanye’s “Carnival,” Future and Metro Boomin’s “Type S–t,” Travis Scott’s “Fe!n,” and The Weeknd’s “Timeless,” which all became Hot 100 flamethrowers, with the first becoming his first No. 1 hit. Though Carti is a missile on features, he’ll need more enduring hits on the solo front to cement his legitimacy as a bonafide hitmaker.
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His 2017 breakout “Magnolia” from his self-titled mixtape was a seismic force culturally and musically. The Pierre Bourne-produced hit was his first top-30 song and was beloved by rap fans, with the biggest one being Jay-Z, who dubbed the record “incredible.”But eight years later, “Magnolia” is still the only song with Carti as a lone artist to spend more than 10 weeks total on the chart. If Carti wants to be the “Travis Scott of Atlanta,” as he was rumored to have told Akademiks, he’ll need to churn out bangers of his own like his Houston brethren.
So far, Carti might have a heater on his hands with “EVIL J0RDAN,” which is in the early lead as MUSIC’s most popular record, netting nearly 53 million plays on Spotify and debuts just behind Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s five-week No.1 “Luther” at the runner-up spot on this week’s Hot 100. When you think of rap giants like Drake, Kendrick, Cole, Future, Travis, and now Tyler, they all landed a hit that lasted beyond their album’s opening week. The question going forward will be if “EVIL J0RDAN” can stick around in the top 10 longer than its opening week, and have the legs to compete well into the spring.
Carti’s steadfastness in his sound and lack of compromise is also something that will add to his legacy as he goes deeper into his career. Though he brought in the late-2010s rap Avengers in Kendrick, Future, Travis, and Uzi for MUSIC, he doesn’t sacrifice his sound to do that, which plays into his genesis as a superstar. Lamar, arguably in the midst of the most incredible run in hip-hop history, appears thrice on the project and is pretty malleable, sliding seamlessly into Carti’s orbit. Whether he’s playing lyrical hopscotch with his rap “twin” on “GOOD CREDIT” or ad-libbing alongside him on “MOJO JOJO,” Lamar slips into those pockets like a hand-in-glove, without spoiling Carti’s efforts.
Carti’s vision isn’t one that everyone can understand, especially those from an older era, but the fact that he has earned the trust and respect of both Mount Rushmore-caliber rappers like Lamar and Future and even current generational leaders like Uzi and Travis speaks to his unflappable influence. Whole Lotta Red was rage rap at its finest and, for some fans, a challenging departure from his Die Lit days. On MUSIC, though, Carti tones down the vamp rap and made palatable music for his day-one listeners while still showing love for his mosh-pit bandits, especially on “POP OUT.”
As Carti continues his quest for immortality, he must also continue to nurture his burgeoning Opium collective, which has thrived under his watch. The rise of Destroy Lonely and Ken Carson in the last few years has answered questions about Carti’s executive skills. Last summer, Carson notched his first Hot 100 hit with “Overseas,” and before that, he enjoyed a torrid set at Coachella and toured with revered rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. As for Destroy, last year, he earned his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart with Love Lasts Forever, also debuting at No. 10 on the Billboard 200. Despite not having Carson or Lonely on the album, there’s always time for Carti to put out an OPIUM project to satiate fans’ hunger between releases, which would bode well for his team and excite fans about the collective’s promising future.
Lastly, the huge question mark is Carti’s productivity. After a grueling five-year wait with MUSIC, Carti can’t afford to make fans wait until 2030 for another album, even if he’s dropping fiery features. Past hip-hop greats have traditionally gone at most two to three years without releasing a project. Carti – still in the early stages of his career – needs to increase his output exponentially. There’s no reason why he can’t release at least two more projects before 2030, which would firmly secure his place as one of the decade’s preeminent greats.
With the “Big Three” conversation still oozing out of barbershops and every other rap podcast, the new topic of choice should be: Does Carti now need to be included in any such discussion? If he amps up his output, grows his collective and scores some huge hits of his own, he absolutely will be.
Outside Lands is returning to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., this summer, and the festival released its star-studded lineup on Tuesday (March 25).
Tyler, the Creator, Hozier and Doja Cat lead the three-day event, which takes place from August 8 to 10. John Summit, Anderson .Paak and the Free Nationals, Vampire Weekend, Glass Animals, Gracie Abrams, Jamie XX, Doechii, and Gesaffelstein are also among this year’s highlighted performers.
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That’s not all. More major performers on the lineup include Bleachers, Jorja Smith, Still Woozy, Thundercat, Marina, Royal Otis, Finneas, Ludacris, Wallows, Role Model and BigXthaPlug, among others.
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“We are beyond excited to return to Golden Gate Park, where we’ll be celebrating everything that makes San Francisco truly world-class—its vibrant culture, its incredible community, and of course, our one-of-a-kind Outside Lands festival,” said Allen Scott, co-founder of Outside Lands and president of concerts and festivals at Another Planet Entertainment, in a press statement. “This year’s lineup captures the dynamic, ever-evolving tastes of the Bay Area. We’re proud to curate a festival that spans generations, bringing something unique and unforgettable for everyone.”
Three-day passes go on sale here on Wednesday (March 26) at 10 p.m. PT. GA tickets start at $499, and fans are encouraged to purchase at the time of the on sale for the lowest possible price. Payment Plans for 3-Day GA, GA+ and VIP tickets start at $99 down. Golden Gate Club passes will also go on sale along with reservations for Cabanas and Box Suites.
See the full lineup below.
DJing just got a bit more streamlined, with Apple Music today (March 25) announcing a new feature called DJ With Apple Music. The integration allows DJs to build and mix sets directly from the DSP’s catalog of over 100 million songs.
The technology was made in partnership with DJ software and hardware platforms AlphaTheta, Serato, and inMusic’s Engine DJ, Denon DJ, Numark and RANE DJ. It expands an initial Apple Music integration with Algoriddim’s djay Pro software.
“Apple Music is committed to supporting DJs,” says Stephen Campbell, Apple Music’s global head of dance, electronic & DJ Mixes. “With this latest integration, we’re taking that commitment even further—seamlessly connecting Apple Music with the industry’s leading DJ software and hardware. This innovation brings the full power of Apple Music into the creative workflow, making it easier than ever for DJs to access, play, and discover music in real time.”
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“The integration of djay with Apple Music across mobile, desktop, and spatial devices opens up a world of creative possibilities for both beginners and seasoned pros,” adds Algoriddim CEO Karim Morsy. “With instant access to Apple Music’s catalog of over 100 million songs, DJs can mix anytime, anywhere – transforming the way they discover and play their favorite music. Whether using Automix for a seamless, hands-free experience or crafting their own unique sets with djay’s powerful mixing tools, this integration marks a major milestone in making DJing more accessible than ever.”
With the launch, Apple Music joins the list of DSPs that allow DJing directly from the platform, with Tidal, Deezer, Beatport and Soundcloud all featuring similar technology.
DJ With Apple Music expands the platform’s investment in DJ sets, as last December Apple Music launched Apple Music Club, a live, 24/7 global radio station featuring curated mixes from a wide collection of DJs. Today’s launch also includes a new DJ with Apple Music category page listing, a statement by the company says, “a series of DJ-friendly editorial playlists, along with new curator pages for each DJ software and hardware platform showcasing any mixes or sample playlists that can be used to practice.”
It’s Billboard Women in Music week, so let’s go ahead and give the ladies their flowers. On Saturday (March 29), Emmy winner Laverne Cox will host the 2025 Billboard Women in Music event, honoring aespa, Ángela Aguilar, Erykah Badu, Glorilla, Gracie Abrams, JENNIE, Megan Moroney, Meghan Trainor, Muni Long, Tyla and Doechii. With Badu earning the Icon Award, Big Glo being named this year’s Powerhouse honoree, Muni Long snagging the Rising Star Award and Doechii — who recently bagged her first Hot 100 top 10 hit with “Anxiety” — landing the Woman of the Year title, this year’s event will celebrate the breadth of women running hip-hop and R&B.
Outside of Women in Music, Ye kept the hip-hop world on its toes by dropping a link to his Bully album, Jack Harlow and Doja Cat joined forces for a new bop featuring a cameo-filled music video and Casey Wasserman — the chairman of the 2028 L.A. Olympics organizing committee — teased a possible Kendrick Lamar performance at the forthcoming Games. Oh, and Playboi Carti notched the biggest Billboard 200 debut of his career, as well as 30 concurrent Hot 100 entries, thanks to his culture-dominating Music LP.
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With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from JT’s summer-ready banger to Nettspend and Xaviersobased’s new link-up. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: JT, “Ran Out”
After taking the world by star with City Cinderella and cemeting herself as a solo artist, JT is back with some more heat. “Ran Out,” an infectious, Y2K-nodding banger in the nonchalant, self-assuered spirit on “Okay,” introduces the Miami MC’s new era, complete with an artsy music video starring famed content creator Quenlin Blackwell. Perfectly timed to grow into a summer anthem, “Ran Out” finds JT reviving the irresistible, slightly whiny delivery of the OG City Girl days while building on her penchant for hooks constructed out of flipping the meaning of a word or phrase multiple times. “Had to stay down, bitches ran out/ My card ain’t work, so I ran out/ The time for these niggas done ran out/ I’m still gettin’ money, I ain’t running out,” she spits in the second half of the hook over bass-heavy production from Ben10k, Danes Blood & 254Bodi. — KYLE DENIS
Nettspend feat. Xaviersobased, “Impact”
Brace for “Impact,” a pair of Gen-Z’s burgeoning rap stars have linked up. Virginia meets NYC as Nettspend and Xaviersobased connect for a glimmering track. Nett’s syrupy AutoTune-laced melodies pace “Impact” with a catchy chorus while Xavier fills in the blanks and closes out his verse relaying his “Saks in the mornin’, Neimans in the evening” shopping habits. Rap’s next generation is carving out its own lane, despite the genre’s elder statesmen begrudgingly lending co-signs. — MICHAEL SAPONARA
FLO feat. Chy Cartier, “Get It Till I’m Gone (Remix)“
FLO & Chy Cartier’s “Get It Till I’m Gone (Remix)” is a bold, empowering anthem about reclaiming power after being taken for granted in a relationship. Rather than wallowing in heartbreak, the song flips the script by showcasing confidence and self-worth, with the artists making it clear that they won’t settle for less. The remix adds a fiery intensity, with Chy Cartier’s verse turning up the heat, proving that walking away is the ultimate flex. With its catchy hooks and unapologetic vibe, “Get It Till I’m Gone” serves as both a declaration of independence and a warning to anyone who fails to appreciate the ladies of FLO and Chy Cartier. — CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON
Droogie Otis feat. Boldy James, “Everything Designer”
Madlib and Your Old Droog are dropping a tape this year, which was news to me until I came across this song. And when you think about it, their styles mesh well together. There’s nothing quite like witty bars over Madlib loops, and MCs like Droog and Boldy have raps like that for days. — ANGEL DIAZ
Jada Kingdom, “G.A.D.”
After spending last year sparring in instantly iconic clashes and ruling fetes with global hits like “What’s Up (Big Buddy),” Jamaican dancehall fusion artist Jada Kingdom is back with a terrific new single ahead of her forthcoming EP. Inspired by local slang that unfairly compares women to drugs, Jada flips the slight on its head, spitting, “Word on the street is girls are drugs/ Dem search fi di tightest buff/ Addicted to the squeeze and clutch/ Wan spend it all pon a serious f–k.” As addictive as she paints women to be, Jada is also primarily concerned with infusing a feminist streak in her reimagning of local slang. “Every gyal man a show me love/ Nah fall fi none, mi put mi feelings up/ Just a girl in a money man’s world/ Mi a have my way, but muss!” she proclaims over the electric guitar-infused Zimi Recrods production. — K.D.
Lil Durk feat. Jhené Aiko, “Can’t Hide It”
Lil Durk tied the knot with India Royale last year, and he opens up about marriage with his Deep Thoughts single. “Can’t Hide It” arrives amid the rapper’s murder-for-hire case as Durk remains behind bars while continuing to flood the streets with music. The raunchy yet romantic track invites Jhené Aiko, who purifies the air and floats above with her celestial vocals while Durk taps into his more melodic side. He even harmonizes alongside the R&B singer turning “Can’t Hide It” into a duet. Look for Smurk’s Deep Thoughts album to be released on Friday (March 28) via Alamo Records. — M.S.
Wolfacejoeyy, “Petty”
Wolfacejoeyy’s “Petty” is a playful yet toxic anthem about turning heartbreak into a competition. Instead of expressing vulnerability, he matches his ex’s energy by flexing his lifestyle, flaunting material success, and even mentioning her best friend. The song captures the ego-driven nature of modern relationships, where social media, status, and revenge take priority over honest emotions. With its smooth, melodic flow and catchy hooks, “Petty” masks frustration with a carefree attitude, making toxicity sound effortlessly cool. — C.C.
Shoreline Mafia, “Back in Bidness”
Shoreline could not have picked a better time to make a comeback as the West Coast is currently in somewhat of a resurgence, thanks largely to Kendrick Lamar and his friends over at TDE. This song and video remind me of when Capone-N-Noreaga came back after War Report with the Reunion album. Shoreline hasn’t dropped an album since 2020’s Mafia Bidness, but this is a perfect lead single to get folks ready for the return. — A.D.
Nija, “32nd Floor”
Three-time Grammy-nominated songwrite Nija is back with a new joint, finally giving us the follow-up to last year’s “Unruly.” When we in the hotel lobby, all of them people ‘round me/ Keep calm, but as soon as we go up, boy you know you got me/ Keep it on the 32nd Floor,” she croons over Eliasodt and Mike Hector’s joint production. The privacy of the penthouse suite is a tired-and-true setting for music’s greatest love escapafes, and Nija doesn’t disappoint with her sultry, guitar-inflected take on the concept ahead of her forthcoming new project, her first since 2022’s Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn You. — K.D.
TheARTI$T, “Ghost”
TheARTI$t’s “Ghost” captures the raw, haunting aftermath of a love that burns out too soon. With vivid imagery of California sunsets and moonlit drives, the song turns heartbreak into a ghostly presence that lingers long after the love is gone. The ARTI$t’s confusion and longing are palpable as they reflect on what went wrong, leaving them to navigate an emotional void. “Ghost” perfectly blends nostalgia with the painful reality of being left with nothing but memories. — C.C.
Reign, “Lowjacc”
Brooklyn rapper Reign delivers a formidable, fiery tape with It’s Up Forever — and “Lowjacc” is a standout on a project filled with them. Across Dizzy Banko’s high-octane production, Reign spits an impressive stream-of-consciousness verse that finds him balancing talking a big game with dropping incomparable nuggets of wisdom. “What you think we trap for? Push a f–king RAV4/ Run this town you gotta build a f–king rapport/ Live on a prayer and call up a f–king task force/ You know the vibes, what the f–k you gotta ask for?” he spits. — K.D.
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Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty / 23andMe
23andMe has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, so what the hell does that mean for DNA records? Users are understandably worried.
Spotted on Newsweek, the genetic testing company 23andMe is going through some financial hard times and had to file for bankruptcy on Sunday, and now the future of the company is looking shaky, leaving many wondering what in the world is going to happen to the database of genetic profiles for the over 15 million people who have signed up for the service.
23andMe is best known for shipping at-home DNA testing kits to customers to help them discover their roots or see if they are predisposed to specific health issues.
Despite initial success, with its peak market valuation reaching $5.8 billion in 2021, the company has experienced financial woes, and its value has dropped $50 million.
Per Newsweek:
“Importantly, this step allows us to continue operating our business while we chart the path forward.”
In a statement given to Newsweek, a spokesperson for 23andMe said: “There are no changes to the way the Company stores, manages, or protects customer data.
“Any buyer will be required to comply with applicable law with respect to the treatment of customer data and any transaction will be subject to customary regulatory approvals, including, as applicable, approvals under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.”
Changes At The Top For 23andMe
Plenty of changes have already taken place at the top as part of the bankruptcy. The company’s co-founder and CEO, Anne Wojcicki, has resigned.
Wojcicki has been trying to purchase all outstanding shares that she doesn’t already control after failing multiple times to take the company private. This has resulted in pushback from the company’s board and the resignation of seven independent directors in September 2024.
She is still pursuing this option.
What Can Customers Do?
Understandably, those who have used the service are worried about what’s going to happen with their genetic data. There are steps you can take for some peace of mind.
According to Newsweek, any 23andmMe customer can request any data about them being held removed.
Other steps include:
Go to the “Settings” section of your profile. Scroll to a section labeled “23andMe Data” at the bottom of the page. Download your data: If you want a copy of your genetic data for personal storage, choose the option to download it to your device before proceeding. Scroll to the “Delete Data” section.
You can see reactions to 23andMe filing for bankruptcy below.
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Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty
Concertgoers looking to attend shows at Forest Hills Stadium might be out of luck this season, after the New York Police Department has not issued critical permits to the venue citing the breakdown of communication between the venue and area residents. The decision was announced in a letter to the West Side Tennis Club and Tiebreaker Productions, the operator of the stadium and its concert promoter, respectively.
NYPD Inspector William Gallagher wrote that the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation, the private group representing the residents of the community around Forest Hills Stadium, refused to let the NYPD close down streets in the neighborhood.
“The NYPD’s crowd control on these private streets is necessary to ensure public safety and welfare when events are hosted at the Stadium,” Gallagher wrote in the letter, which was sent March 19, stating that “until and unless FHGC grants the NYPD permission” there would be no sound amplification permits issued. When contacted by WNYW Fox5, the West Side Tennis Club said that it had not received communication from police about the issue. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the stadium wrote that it is “moving forward with our 2025 concert schedule as planned and our permitting timeline is on its standard schedule. As happens every season, the vocal NIMBY minority of Forest Hills Gardens are attempting to roadblock yet another enjoyable season of music.”
Forest Hills Stadium has been a treasured part of the Queens neighborhood since its construction in the 1920s, and was once home to the U.S. Open tennis tournament. The 14,000-seat venue has hosted concerts since the 1960s, including the Rock The Bells concert in honor of the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop in 2023. But in recent years residents have complained about the loud music, blocked driveways and unruly crowds making their way to the venue through the streets.
The concert series also has the backing of local vendors and business owners who say that the shows bring in millions of dollars and jobs to the area. “The idea that a handful of individuals can wield this kind of outsized influence to the detriment of an entire neighborhood is both outrageous and unacceptable,” Queens Chamber of Commerce CEO Thomas Grech said in a statement on Monday (March 24). “Forest Hills Stadium has done everything right.”
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Source: TMZ / TMZ
Rapper SKG Is Celebrating Big U’s RICO Arrest
Big U, an alleged Los Angeles Rollin’ 60s Crips gang member and community activist, has been arrested, along with other individuals, on a RICO charge. While 58-year-old Eugene Henley is denying the allegations, others associated with him are celebrating his arrest.
Rapper SKG told TMZ that she was a “victim” of Big U, adding, “He’s a monster.”
Helecia Choyce, known professionally as SKG—which stands for “Suge Knight Girl”—is a former Death Row Records artist. She told the gossip site that Big U was responsible for having her assaulted numerous times. She also claims that he extorted her and regularly threatened other artists who wanted to work with her.
She also expressed sympathy for the family of Rayshawn Williams, the 21-year-old aspiring rapper who federal prosecutors allege Big U murdered in Las Vegas back in 2021.
When asked if she believes that Big U had any involvement in the death of Nipsey Hussle nearly six years ago—she noted that the public is likely to be “shocked” once the details of the allegations against Big U are made public, adding that the elder gang leader was “jealous” of the deceased rapper.
For their part, the feds are not alleging that Big U was involved in Nipsey’s death. The shooter, Eric Holder Jr., is the only person convicted in the 2019 murder and is currently serving 60 years to life.
This is not SKG’s first time speaking out about Big U. In a previous interview with Wack 100, she stated that Big U was involved in Williams’s death. She also added that she and her community will be safer with Big U off the streets.
SKG is best known for her 2022 album, Unfinished Business. The indie release featured appearances by Boosie, Paul Wall, Juvenile, Suga Free, Beenie Man and more. She also appeared in an independent film called F Friendship, and directed a short documentary about being mentored by Afeni Shakur.
As previously reported by HipHopWired, in the 107-page federal complaint, officials say that Henley ran his self-styled enterprise similarly to how the Mafia operates, using his “stature and long-standing association with the Rollin’ 60s and other street gangs to intimidate businesses and individuals” across the city.
Big U has denied the allegations against him and says he has contributed positively to his South Los Angeles community.
For years, singer-songwriter Sierra Hull has checked two bags of music gear for free as part of a longstanding Southwest Airlines policy allowing two free checked bags per passenger. But when the troubled, cost-cutting airline announced March 11 that it would strike the musician-friendly perk, the bluegrass mandolinist was outraged.
“The policies they’ve changed over the last year or so have made it tougher for musicians,” Hull says. “Now there’s going to be an extra several hundred dollars for most bands just to get where they’re going. Festivals are going to have to start paying the bands even more for the band to even say yes — which means they’re going to have to raise the ticket price.”
The Southwest announcement, coming when touring costs are “definitely staggering,” as one top agent puts it — particularly buses, hotels, food and fuel — has frustrated artists prepping for spring and summer tours, especially in Nashville. “We’ve got dozens of people on the crew that utilize that airline regularly. Most people have one to two bags,” says Bill Orner, manager of Billy Strings, who’s scheduled to headline arenas, festivals and amphitheaters this summer — most of them after Southwest’s policy takes effect May 28. “Think of the financial implications on any given tour. I guess they’ve got a reason for it, but [it’s] certainly not ideal.”
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Although Southwest has yet to announce how much the checked bags will cost after May 28, Brian Ross, manager of Thievery Corporation, Blackalicious and others, estimates that a quartet traveling with two crew members will soon have to pay an additional $35 to $40 for each set of two bags, which adds up to $840 to $960 per round-trip flight. “It’s really bad,” he says. “You get diminishing benefits and increasing fees, and everything is getting like that on airlines.”
A-list touring stars won’t notice an additional $800 to $1,000 in costs, and smaller artists generally drive in vans and buses, meaning mid-level artists who play 1,500-to-2,000-seat theaters will be most impacted by Southwest’s policy change. “It’s a big bummer,” says Kevin Spellman, who manages bluegrass singer Molly Tuttle. He calls Southwest the “airline of choice for the musician community, particularly Nashville artists” — until now — and says artists traveling with a crew of 15 people could lose “a couple thousand dollars” from their bottom line. “If you’re doing really well, you’re trying to aim for 25% of the gross [ticket sales] as your profit margin,” he says. “It starts cutting into it tremendously.”
Reps for Southwest declined to comment, pointing to a company statement at a recent financial conference suggesting the change would lead to “significant new revenue initiatives.” The company took in $73 million from bag fees in 2023, according to the Department of Transportation, a crucial revenue source for an airline that laid off 1,750 employees in February. (Southwest will continue to offer two free bags for “A-List Preferred” customers.)
Some airlines see opportunity in Southwest’s change, although it’s too early to say whether they’ll go after the touring-musician community. On Tuesday (March 25), Frontier Airlines announced it would offer free bags for customers who book flights on its website, as well as “economy bundles” that include a free carry-on and other benefits. Kristi Gordon, owner of Fuzed Travel, which helps negotiate airfare, hotel and vehicle costs for touring artists, predicts top airlines such as American and United will pay close attention to Southwest’s revenue in the first two quarters of 2025 and consider promotions geared to lure the airline’s lost musician customers.
Until then, Gordon advises artists to sign up for frequent-flier programs at a particular airline and build up miles for future discounts. And if she could speak to a Southwest exec who authorized the free-bags policy change? “I would just say: ‘You lost an opportunity to have all the entertainment business.’”